Our theme on the site this month is Longing, and I think your films capture that feeling so well, and I have to ask a Virgin Suicides question because—

OK! I love that you brought that movie to a whole new audience! When I met Leslie Mann for this movie she said, “Oh, my daughter loves The Virgin Suicides,” and I thought, How does she even know about that? She wasn’t even born then! And it’s through you, so—

Ah!

That movie didn’t have a big audience when it came out, so I’m happy that it lives on.

Oh my gosh—girls WORSHIP it. It’s like…it comes up so much when we meet our readers. When you read [Jeffrey Eugenides’s] book, what resonated with you? Because it’s a lot about feeling kind of locked up at home in the suburbs—that’s where [the main characters] the Lisbon sisters are. And I think your life must have been somewhat different. Were you just kind of fascinated by them? Or was there something that you related to about that feeling of being confined?

I can’t remember, it was so long ago! [Laughs] But I loved Eugenides’s writing, and I felt like I could be there with [the Lisbon sisters]. I really loved how the boys were looking at the girls and the girls had this kind of power and mystique over them. I think when you’re that age you’re kind of playing with that power and trying to understand it. I liked how the girls were playing with the boys’ confusion about them, and I was interested in how girls could get stuck in lives that were too small for them.

I know you make moodboards and little mood books when you’re getting started on a film. Are there any images or influences that come up repeatedly?

Oh, usually they’re pretty different. I think if you see them, you can see a connection, because it’s my sensibility, but they always have a different feeling. But whenever I look at them after I finish a movie, I’m always surprised that they look like the feeling of the movie. I’ll have to find the Virgin Suicides one for you. There’s a photographer called Bill Owens who did photos of ’70s suburbia that were references for The Virgin Suicides. Do you have that book?

No.

It’s called Suburbia. There’s a picture of a girl and some kids at a high school dance with little tinfoil stars hanging over them, which was what I looked at for that [homecoming] scene. And then for this one, Claire [Julien], the blond girl in The Bling Ring, she has these pictures on her Facebook of her in a pink bikini with, like, lots of attitude. So that [moodboard] was stuff like that and shots of the night sky with the twinkly lights in the distance.

I read that you made zines as a teenager. What were they like, and what is it like looking back on them?

Jeans?

Zines. Sorry!

Oh, no—because you know I had a little clothing line with a friend? I helped with X-Girl and then I did my own little line. It was like T-shirts that we put graphics on. But it was back when there wasn’t anything really between generic Gap and fashion—there wasn’t anything with a personality that wasn’t expensive—so we thought it would be fun to design our own. But…oh, I think I have to go, Tavi, because I have an appointment.

That’s OK! Thank you so much!

Aw, thanks! I’m happy to do something with you, and thanks for all your support.

I recently even commented on how I didn’t quiiite like The Virgin Suicides, but precisely because of what you’ve both pointed out about longing and inner conflicts she is one of my favourite directors. Thank you both! xxxx

The Virgin Suicides is my all time favorite movie and I like Sofia a lot (we even have the same big and gorgeous noses with a bump,hah!).
Also I didn’t know she was the designer of milkfed!It is such an adorable brand, but I always confused it with another amazing Japanese brand – MILK~

The interviews you do here are amazing, and always with the most incredible people. Sofia Coppola is one of my all time favourite directors, and I had a mini heart flit when I saw this interview appear, thank you!

ahhh such a great interview, Sofia is one of my favorite female directors, I remember when I saw the virgin suicides for the first time, and how it got stuck in my mind, how everytime when I closed my eyes I could see the sky and feel like I was in the movie…

Virgin Suicides came out when I was 15 and Lost In Translation when I was 19 so I really feel like I’ve grown up with Sofia’s influence (I’ve seen Lost In Translation so many times, more than any other film!) I’m really looking forward to The Bling Ring.

This is fantastic! I want to see The Bling Ring sooo bad but I live in the middle of nowhere so that probably won’t happen anytime soon. But I’m really glad you guys talked about The Virgin Suicides because it’s one of my favorites!

I am ashamed to admit that I often don’t know who the Rookie interviewees are (apart from Emma Watson). However, after I read the interviews, I always get the feeling of ‘wow, these people are so cool, how did I not know about them before!’
It is the same with today, I mean ‘wow, Sofia Coppola is so cool’. I soooo need to watch the Virgin Suicides, and I am definately going to watch The Bling Ring when it come out!
Thanks for introducing me to another great person Rookie!

I loved The Virgin Suicides aesthetically and I loved the book but I didn’t find that the film really held my attention. However, after reading this, I think I might rewatch it. I love Marie Antoinette, I’ve been planning to watch Lost in Translation and I’m really looking forward to seeing The Bling Ring. The way you two talk about The Virgin Suicides has made me fall in love with the story all over again. I really want to see Sofia’s zines now. It’s such a shame that she ran out of time to talk about them. Talk about leaving us on a cliffhanger…

Eep! This is so exciting, I had a feeling that one day Rookie would need to interview Sofia Coppola!
She’s so inspiring, the dazy and dreamy way she did The Virgin Suicides and the flashy aesthetic for The Bling Ring are so contrasting yet so loyal to the teen-y view of things.
This interview was wonderful, and I have have have to find Suburbia! Especially when she mentioned the tin-foil stars, amazing! Thank you Rookie and Tavi!

Man, I was really excited to see the bling ring until I found out it was pretty white-washed; The original bling ring had a lot of POC in it. This article talks about how they left out an undocumented immigrant, and the complications over whitewashing vs. leaving a bad image of undocumented people in this fragile time for immigration.

Sofia Coppola is one of my favorite directors! The fact that she is on here being interviewed by my other hero Tavi is just amazing. I love Sofia’s films so much, especially how she adopted Virgin Suicides into an interesting, beautiful yet tragic film.

OMG, this is so freaking cool! I loved Sofia before and this just made me like her even more. I only wish there were more directors like her (especially female ones). Her films are always so unique. Thank your for the lovely interview, Rookie!

Yoo-hoo! August’s theme is GIVE AND TAKE, and we’d like to take into consideration whatever submissions you have to give about that! (Even/especially if they’re as cheesy as we just were.) Send pitches to submission@rookiemag.com. ✴

Categories

About Rookie

Rookie is a website for teenage girls. With monthly-themed content, we update three times every weekday, and once a day on weekends. Click here to find out where to send stuff you'd like us to see. Learn about the people who write this thing here.